The inaugural Whistler Dragon Boat Festival, June 28-29, is officially a fundraiser for the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program (WASP). Water’s Edge, which is planning the festival, will donate all proceeds from its beer garden to WASP’s paddling programs.
For the past three years, WASP has worked with Captain Holidays and other to introduce adaptive kayaking and paddling to people with disabilities, and this year will offer the opportunity to use outrigger canoes and dragon boats through the Pemberton Paddling Club.
The Whistler Dragon Boat Festival expects up to 30 teams to take part in 200 metre, 500 metre and 1,000 metre races on Alta Lake, based out of Rainbow Park. Water’s Edge is providing all the boats, paddles and life jackets, as well as coaches for local teams entering the local challenge.
For more information on the festival or to register a team, visit www.whistlerdragonboat.com.
Riess selected for B.C. Summer Games
Pemberton’s Kai Riess, 15, was selected to represent Zone 5 in the upcoming B.C. Summer Games in Kelowna.
Riess has won three triathlons in a row this year, including the recent Kids of Steel race hosted by the Whistler Triathlon Club. He also competed in the North Shore Triathlon and the Squamish Kids of Steel.
Riess will compete in three events: a duathlon (1 km run, 5 km bike, 1 km run), an aquathlon (300 metre swim, 1 km run), and a triathlon (400 metre swim, 15 km bike, and 3 km run).
Squamish BMX hosts three race series
The newly created Squamish BMX Racing Club is hosting a series of three races on June 7, 14 and 29 at the new track next to the Brennan Park Recreation Centre. Daily registration is at 10 a.m.
Gate practices take place every Monday through the summer, and an additional race is planned for Aug. 31.
The June 7 race was also part of the provincial championship series, and double points were awarded to participants that can be used to enter provincial and national level competitions. With the inclusion of BMX in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, there has been a resurgence of interest in BMX racing.
For more information on Squamish BMX, visit www.squamishbmx.com.
Hotels tee off in Beds and Balls Invitational
Local hotels are invited to Big Sky Golf and Country Club today, June 12, to take part in the Beds and Balls tournament. The goal of the tournament is to give hotel employees a chance to play the local course, and engage each other in a friendly competitions. Some 130 participants are expected, with a shotgun start and scramble format. Registration starts at 2:30 p.m. and the shotgun start is at 3:30 p.m.
There will be a prize for the best retro golf outfit, and for the best costume, as well as draw prizes and hole prizes donated by sponsors. For more information visit www.bigskygolf.com.
Camp Summit bike camp taking registration
Former Canadian downhill champion Mike Jones is inviting kids aged 12-15 to join the Camp Summit mountain bike camps from July 5 to 9. The Squamish-based camp includes coaching from pro riders, personalized bike setup, trails rides, a day in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, trail building sessions, bike maintenance tips, swimming, a high ropes course, video nights and more. For more information visit www.campsummit.ca.
Phat Wednesday ready to launch
The Phat Wednesday downhill series gets underway on Wednesday, June 18 with a rip down B-Line — a run that has received a lot of attention recently, with new berms and features added, and a smoother ride from top to bottom.
To participate you need to be a member of WORCA, have a valid park pass, and pay a $2 entry fee, which will go to the prize purse for the evening. Whistler-Blackcomb is hosting the event, with sponsors like Sram and Kokanee providing draw prizes.
Registration gets underway at the base of the mountain at 5:30 p.m. and the race gets underway at 6:30 p.m.
WORCA launches Ride2Ride
The Whistler Off Road Cycling Association is going green this year, encouraging riders to bring their own mugs to events and suggesting green alternatives for businesses hosting events. Recently WORCA also launched Ride2Ride, encouraging members to ride to and from every race. People who participate will be able to track the distance they ride, and at the end of the season will be invited to a WORCA appreciation event.
“With over 1,200 members and usually at least 200 taking part in our Thursday Loonie rides, we realize the irony of emissions associated with participation in a cycling club,” said WORCA president Todd Hellinga. “We really want to get more people riding everywhere, all the time.”
The first sign-on is tonight, Thursday, June 12, at the Loonie race sponsored by Fanatyk CO. Sign on is at Meadow Park, behind the baseball diamonds at 5:30 p.m., with the race starting at 6:30 p.m.
